TAORMINA RIVIERA(Days 14 & 15)

SANTA MARGHERITA

(Days 3 & 4)

BAVENO(Day 5)

LakeMaggiore

SORRENTO(Days 10 & 11)

Pompeii

ALBEROBELLO(Days 12 & 13)

Ostuni

Amalfi Coast

Mt Etna

San Gimignano

River Po

Matera

VENICE(Days 6 & 7)

Verona

FLORENCE(Days 8 & 9)

Cinque Terre

Pisa

Portofino

Capri

ApennineMountains

Chianti

PALERMO(Days 16 & 17)

ROME &THE VATICAN CITY

(Days 1 & 2)

CalabriaMts.

1

2

2

21

2

2

2

ITALY

SICILY

2

GRAND ITALY & SICILY

ITALY, SICILY & MALTAREGIONAL JOURNEY

Dine in style at your Celebration Dinner in Palermo

INSIGHT EXPERIENCES

Alberobello: You are welcomed into the home of a local for a freshly prepared meal, typical of the region for your Dine-at-Home experience.

Visit Bramante Staircase, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica with a Local Expert • Rome with a Local Expert • a glassblower workshop and gondola crafting in Venice • Accademia Museum in Florence with a Local Expert.

COACH WITH EXTRA LEGROOM

SMALLER GROUPS

140

AUTHENTIC DINING

Welcome Dinner in Rome • Bistecca alla Fiorentina Dinner with Wine in Florence • Celebration Dinner in Palermo.

Taste wine in Alberobello.

TOP RATED HIGHLIGHTS

Cruise from Porto"no to Santa Margherita • Ride a gondola, serenaded through the canals of Venice • Cruise to the Isle of Capri • Ride an open-top taxi.

Visit Taormina Amphitheatre • Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel in Palermo.

City tours of Pisa, Cinque Terre, Florence, Pompeii, Isle of Capri, Matera, Alberobello, Taormina and Palermo, all with Local Experts.

See the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona in Rome • Italian Lakes District • Roman Arena and Juliette's balcony in Verona • St. Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace in Venice • Mount Vesuvius from Sorrento • the Sassi of Matera • the Trulli of Alberobello • Palazzo Corvaja in Taormina Riviera • Teatro Massimo, Quattro Canti Square and Fountain of Shame in Palermo.

Key:

Join/Leave Options

UNESCO Heritage Site

Central Hotels + Nights

Scenic Hotels + Nights

Place Visited

Optional Place Visited

1

1

FROM $321 PER DAY

For information on this trip, or to book, go to insightvacations.com, call (65) 6922 5950/6299 3382 or speak to your travel agent.

STARTS STARTSENDS ENDSTWIN TWIN

DAY 6

FAIR VERONA AND ONTO VENICE.

Follow the southern fringes of the Alps

to romantic Verona, the setting of one of

literature's most tragic and best known love

stories between star-crossed lovers.

See the ancient Roman Arena, still used

for opera performances and stand beneath

Juliet's balcony in a Renaissance courtyard of

the supposed Capulet home - can you recite

Shakespeare's immortal words?

Your travels continue through the Soave

vineyards, passing Padua, and on to the canals

of Venice. (B) (DW)

Bellini Venezia, Venice.

DAY 7 · RELAXED START

THE MAGIC OF LA SERENISSIMA.

Even for the experienced traveller, there can be

no better joy than waking up in Venice.

Admire the art of glass-blowing by master

craftsmen when you visit a traditional arts

centre on Giudecca Island.

#en cruise by private launch along canals

lined with ornate palaces to arrive at St. Mark's

Square where St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's

Palace and its adjoining Bridge of Sighs await.

Board your gondola to be serenaded through

the beautiful canals, passing water-lapped

doorways and Rococo palaces. Relax amongst

the romantic atmosphere as you drift along

before having an afternoon to enjoy. (B)

DAY 8

A SCENIC JOURNEY TO FLORENCE.

Bid farewell to Venice and begin your journey

to Renaissance Florence.

Join your Local Expert to see Michelangelo's

David when you visit the Accademia Gallery.

Walk to the cathedral and see Giotto's bell

tower and the Gates of Paradise on the

baptistery. Wander through the open-air

gallery of Piazza della Signoria, gazing at

statues such as Neptune, Hercules and Cacus,

along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio. Your

exploration will "nish in front of the basilica

where Michelangelo lies buried in Piazza Santa

Croce, famous for its quality goods.

Enjoy a traditional Bistecca alla Fiorentina

steak dinner paired with delicious local wine, a

speciality not to be missed. (B) (DW)

Hilton Garden Inn Florence Novoli.

Michelangelo's genius is on display next door

in St. Peter's Basilica.

Join a local for a leisurely passeggiata through

this cultural city. Toss a coin into the

spectacular Trevi Fountain, see the Pantheon

and enjoy free time in Piazza Navona. (B)

DAY 3

PISA AND SANTA MARGHERITA

LIGURE.

Enjoy a delightful drive through rolling

countryside dotted with cypress trees, passing

vineyards and olive groves to Pisa.

With a Local Expert, view the incredible

Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles

from which Galileo is said to have conducted

experiments on velocity and gravity. See the

splendid cathedral and baptistery, decorated

with mosaics and designs in solid marble.

Your journey continues to the pretty seaside

resort of Santa Margherita Ligure. (B) (DW)

Best Western Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure.

DAY 4

THE CHARMS OF THE CINQUE TERRE.

Head for the famous Cinque Terre, which

translates to Five Lands, located on a

gorgeously wild yet hospitable part of the

coastline and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With a Local Expert, approach one of the

"shing villages by boat and spend some time

exploring the medieval quarter or the popular

sandy beach before continuing to the village

of Porto"no, to admire the colourful houses.

Should weather permit, return with a cruise

along the rugged Ligurian coast to your hotel

in the resort of Santa Margherita. (B)

DAY 5 · RELAXED START

LAKE MAGGIORE.

Head north to the beautiful Lake Maggiore

in the Italian Lakes District and the town of

Baveno, noted for its narrow cobbled streets

and charming 16th century square. On

arrival, settle into your hotel and take in the

magical scenery. In the evening, why not join

a private cruise to Isola Bella to explore the

palace and admire the stunning Botanical

Gardens? (B)

Hotel Simplon, Baveno, Italian Lakes.

DAY 1

WELCOME TO THE ETERNAL CITY

OF ROME.

On arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da

Vinci Airport you are met and at 09:30, 12:30

and 15:30 transfers depart for your hotel.

Join your Travel Director and fellow travellers

at 17:30 and travel to your Welcome Dinner

at a local restaurant. (DW)

Hotel Romanico Palace, Rome.

DAY 2

VIP VATICAN AND ROME WITH A

LOCAL.

In the morning, you will be joined by a Local

Expert to guide you through the art collection

of the Vatican Museums, culminating

beneath Michelangelo's famous ceiling in

the Sistine Chapel. Your VIP visit includes

fast-tracked entry and a behind-the-scenes

look at the Bramante Staircase, a part of the

Vatican usually closed to visitors. More of

Please see inside front cover for information key on dining, travel styles and itinerary icons.

YOUR ITINERARY - AT A GLANCE17 DAYS | 2 COUNTRIES | 16 BREAKFASTS | 8 DINNERS | 26 INCLUDED EXPERIENCES

TRIP CODE: E921

TRIP PLANNER - 17 DAYS

141

EARLY PAYMENT DISCOUNT SAVE UP TO $560 p.p.

Fri 12 Apr Sun 28 Apr $5450 Fri 12 Jul Sun 28 Jul $5575

Fri 19 Apr Sun 05 May $5475 Fri 19 Jul Sun 04 Aug $5525

Fri 26 Apr Sun 12 May $5475 Fri 26 Jul Sun 11 Aug $5525

Fri 03 May Sun 19 May $5475 Fri 02 Aug Sun 18 Aug $5525

Fri 10 May Sun 26 May $5475 Fri 09 Aug Sun 25 Aug $5525

Fri 17 May Sun 02 Jun $5475 Fri 16 Aug Sun 01 Sep $5525

Fri 24 May Sun 09 Jun $5475 Fri 23 Aug Sun 08 Sep $5525

Fri 31 May Sun 16 Jun $5475 Fri 30 Aug Sun 15 Sep $5475

Fri 07 Jun Sun 23 Jun $5475 Fri 06 Sep Sun 22 Sep $5575

Fri 14 Jun Sun 30 Jun $5475 Fri 13 Sep Sun 29 Sep $5575

Fri 21 Jun Sun 07 Jul $5525 Fri 20 Sep Sun 06 Oct $5525

Fri 28 Jun Sun 14 Jul $5550 Fri 27 Sep Sun 13 Oct $5525

Fri 05 Jul Sun 21 Jul $5595 Fri 04 Oct Sun 20 Oct $5525

ALL INCLUDED EXPERIENCES & DINING WORTH APPROXIMATELY $961

NOTES: Twin prices are per person. Isle of Capri: Open-top taxis are

dependent on favourable weather conditions.

FURTHER SAVINGS UP TO: Young Traveller $550 | Triple Room

Reduction $200 | 2nd Trip $140

ROOMING OPTIONS: Single Supplement from $1300 p.p. up to $1390 p.p.

EXTRA NIGHT HOTELS PER PERSON - SEASONAL ADJUSTMENTS MAY

APPLY: Rome: Hotel Romanico Palace Twin $192 | Single $303

Triple $163. Palermo: Best Western Ai Cavalieri Hotel Twin $114

Single $164 | Triple $108

ONE-WAY TRANSFER OUTSIDE SCHEDULE TIMES: Rome: $50 p.p.,

Palermo: $70 p.p.

PREPAID GRATUITIES OPTION: For your Travel Director and

Driver $196 p.p.

142

YOUR ITINERARY - AT A GLANCE17 DAYS | 2 COUNTRIES | 16 BREAKFASTS | 8 DINNERS | 26 INCLUDED EXPERIENCES

DAY 9 · RELAXED START

FLORENCE, BIRTHPLACE OF THE

RENAISSANCE.

Start the day with a traditional Florentine

leatherwork demonstration and enjoy the rest

of the day at leisure.

Perhaps join an Optional Experience to

explore the hilltop town of San Gimignano?

(B)

DAY 10

ILL-FATED POMPEII AND ON TO

SORRENTO.

Journey south through the volcanic hills of

Frascati to Pompeii.

Walk with a Local Expert through the

preserved cobbled streets for a glimpse into

the daily life of civilisation during the Roman

Empire.

Follow the cli%top road to the resort of

Sorrento. (B)

Hotel Regina, Sorrento.

DAY 11

CAPRI, THE ISLE OF DREAMS.

Cruise to Capri and on arrival step into one

of the island's iconic open-top taxis for a drive

up the steep, winding roads while a symphony

of cicadas chirp away in the pines.

Your Local Expert leads you through the

narrow alleyways of Capri town before you

descend to the port by funicular and return to

Sorrento for some relaxation time. (B)

DAY 12

SASSI DI MATERA AND ALBEROBELLO.

After breakfast, discover two UNESCO

World Heritage Sites. First you will visit

Matera for an in-depth guided exploration of

the extraordinary Sassi which are troglodyte

dwellings and churches dug out of the rock.

Here is the most extensive example of their

kind in the Mediterranean and were inhabited

by about 20,000 people up until 1950. Matera

was also used as the setting for '#e Passion of

the Christ.'

Continue to Alberobello, the second

UNESCO World Heritage Site and your

home for the next two nights. (B) (DW)

Grand Hotel La Chiusa di Chietri, Alberobello.

DAY 13 · RELAXED START

ALBEROBELLO.

Join your Local Expert to admire the Trulli

before venturing into the surrounding region,

a paradise for wine-lovers.

Join an expert vintner for a tasting of Puglia's

most robust and structured red wines.

For your Dine-at-Home experience, you are

invited to join a local and their family. See

Nonna making pasta and enjoy a freshly

prepared meal together, traditional of southern

Italy. (B) (DW)

DAY 14

SICILY AND THE TAORMINA RIVIERA.

Follow the shores of the Gulf of Taranto to

the mountainous Calabria region.

Travel along the Purple Coast and board

your ferry bound for Sicily, continue to the

Taormina Riviera. (B) (DW)

Hilton Giardini Naxos, Taormina Riviera.

DAY 15 · RELAXED START

TAORMINA AND THE DAWN COAST OF

EUROPE.

Join a Local Expert for a visit to the Greek

theatre, graced with the most spectacular of

backdrops. Stroll on to the tiny courtyard

of the Palazzo Corvaja, Taormina's grandest

building. Further along the elegant Corso

Umberto, the Piazza IX Aprile o%ers

panoramic views.

#e remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at

your own pace. (B)

DAY 16

PALERMO, CAPITAL OF SICILY.

Head to the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

On arrival, your Local Expert will show you

the highlights of the capital. Pass the huge

Teatro Massimo to the Baroque Quattro

Canti Square and glimpse the beauties of

the Fountain of Shame. Palermo Cathedral

has been altered over the years and a venture

inside will help you to appreciate the

composite architectural styles.

Next, head to the amazing Palatine Chapel in

the Palace of the Normans. With the outside

completely covered in glittering 12th century

mosaics, it provides an insight to what's

within.

Join your travelling companions and

Travel Director at a local restaurant for an

unforgettable Celebration Dinner of delicious

local cuisine and wine. (B) (DW)

Best Western Ai Cavalieri Hotel, Palermo.

DAY 17

DEPART PALERMO.

Your journey draws to an end with departure

transfers arriving at Palermo's Falcone–

Borsellino Airport at 06:00 and 08:00. (B)

For information on this trip, or to book, go to insightvacations.com, call (65) 6922 5950/6299 3382 or speak to your travel agent.